Priorities for St. James

A Better St. James, Built Together.

Tyler's platform focuses on affordability, safety, transit, infrastructure, access, and responsible finances.

Tyler Crichton by Sturgeon Creek in St. James

At a glance

Six priorities. One practical plan.

Affordability

Provide Immediate Financial Relief to St. James Residents

Crime & Safety

Addressing the Root Causes, Helping You Feel Secure

Transit

Service to Grace Hospital, Restore Provincial Funding, Modernize Fare Systems

City Infrastructure & Services

Protect our Roads, Trees and Pipes

Access to Your Councillor

Reachable, Reliable and Building Community

Finances

Stopping Cost Overruns, Not Essential Services

Affordability

Provide Immediate Financial Relief to St. James Residents

Life is getting more expensive, and St. James' families are feeling the squeeze. From utility bills to recreation service fees, budgets are stretched tighter than ever.

Here is how we can build a more affordable St. James together:

Supporting Families

I will champion expanding free or low-cost recreational activities and swimming at our community centres, support income and family-based transit discounts, and ensure our parks are lively and accessible year-round by securing grants for winter activities.

Keeping Seniors in St. James

I will advocate expanding low or no-cost fitness classes, technology-literacy workshops, and welcoming social programs at our community centres to keep seniors active and connected. Looking long-term, I will encourage diverse, affordable housing options right here in St. James, ensuring seniors can age in place in accessible homes.

Promoting Responsible Infill

True affordability means keeping your property taxes predictable and reasonable. The most responsible way to do that is to allow our city to grow from within near main transit lines, rather than endlessly funding expensive sprawl that taxpayers cannot afford to maintain. I will support by-law changes requiring developers to finish landscaping promptly, and maintain a clean, orderly jobsite.

Crime & Safety

Addressing the Root Causes, Helping You Feel Secure

Whether you are walking to a transit stop on Ness Avenue, locking up your bike outside Unicity, or enjoying a peaceful evening in Bruce Park, safety is the foundation of a happy and thriving community.

While we face real, modern challenges with property crime and complex social issues surrounding addictions, we can still build a more supportive, proactive safety network.

Here is how we can build a safer St. James together:

Improving Emergency Response

I will advocate for a fourth emergency service to handle mental-health crises and well-being checks. By diverting non-violent calls away from police, fire, and paramedics to a dedicated team of mental health workers, we can free up our resources to get help to you faster.

Welcoming Community Design

I will advocate for modernizing and brightening our transit stops, parking lots, and alleyways with better lighting and visibility, while supporting community-led initiatives similar to the Bear Clan Patrol and residents looking to form connection-focused Neighbourhood Watch groups.

Protecting Retail Spaces

I will work to establish active partnerships with major property management companies at both Unicity and Polo Park. By coordinating private security efforts, building owners, and municipal resources, we can create a safer, more proactive environment for shoppers and workers alike. I’ll also work with the St. James Biz to establish patrols in the community to ensure everyone feels safe.

Caring for Shared Spaces

I will continue my work leading cleanup efforts in St. James. I will also advocate for regular cleanup efforts of our parks, more public garbage and recycling bins - and ensure they’re emptied regularly.

Enhancing Street & Traffic Safety

Building on my work founding the Less on Ness traffic safety initiative, I will lead the push for modern street designs that gently calm traffic and protect local storefronts. By prioritizing accessible sidewalks and calmer streets, we can make getting where you need to go safer, no matter your mode of transportation.

Transit

Service to Grace Hospital, Restore Provincial Funding, Modernize Fare Systems

The city’s recent transit network overhaul has left many St. James families navigating long waits, reduced frequency, and increased missed connections. The new framework gives us the right structure for the future, but we must properly invest in it.

Here is how we can build a better transit system together:

Collaborating with Governments

I will focus on building strong partnerships with the province, and will advocate to restore the Provincial 50-50 Funding and further expand investment in Winnipeg Transit.

Enhancing Transit Infrastructure

I will advocate for practical infrastructure improvements, such as building more heated, accessible bus shelters and ensuring they are consistently cleaned, well-lit, and kept in good repair during our Winnipeg winters.

Simplifying Fare Payment

I support replacing our current outdated fare system to accept smartphone payments and contactless tap, while keeping reliable paper tickets accessible for those who need it.

Accessing Grace Hospital & Deer Lodge Centre

I will advocate for the 22 bus route to run more frequently, and directly to vital locations so that you can get to Deer Lodge and the Grace Hospital easier, and faster.

Moving Traffic Faster

I want to see smart, dedicated bus lanes and protected active transportation corridors. Investing in rapid transit is how we reduce congestion, reduce pollution and get traffic moving more smoothly, no matter how you choose to travel.

City Infrastructure & Services

Protect our Roads, Trees and Pipes

Winnipeg’s infrastructure deficit - the funding required to bring our roads, bridges, pools, libraries and parks up to standard - stands at a historic $8 billion and climbing. Navigating a complex challenge of this scale requires disciplined, long-term strategic planning.

The solution is to take care of the assets we have before committing to new infrastructure. When evaluating services at City Hall, I will focus on protecting our neighbourhood infrastructure and spending your tax money wisely.

Here is how we can fix our roads and protect city services together:

Prioritize What We Have

I am dedicated to prioritizing the maintenance and renewal of our existing roads, backlanes, and sidewalks in St. James. Focusing on our existing footprints allows us to fix potholes faster and clear snow on time. Critical corridors like the St. James Bridge and Route 90 need immediate attention, but we should ensure any expansion provides value for the city to maintain over the long term for not just cars, but for transit, cyclists and pedestrians. I will prioritize fixing the rest of Saskatchewan Avenue immediately.

Invest In Sewers and Water Pipes

Upgrading our aging water and sewer pipes is vital to protecting our homes, businesses, and local waterways. I will champion accelerating our underground water main renewals to prevent sewer backups and costly water main breaks, protecting homes, backlanes, and major corridors like Portage Avenue from unexpected closures.

Enhance Operating Hours for Community Spaces

Our public pools, community centres, and libraries should be open daily at reliable times so they remain fully accessible to all. I will work with my fellow councillors to ensure these vital neighbourhood resources receive stable funding.

Access to Your Councillor

Reachable, Reliable and Building Community

I love meeting new people, hearing fresh ideas, working together to solve neighbourhood problems and building genuine community. I believe that a great city councillor should be easy to reach, ready to listen, and connected to the people they represent.

As your councillor, I am fully committed to bringing a high standard of professional communication, transparency, and accessibility to St. James.

Here is how we will stay connected & build community:

Communicating Openly and Consistently

I will maintain a responsive office: messages, calls and inquiries from St. James residents will be answered in a timely and professional manner. I will provide regular, transparent updates across social media regarding local infrastructure projects, council debates, and community milestones. Additionally, I will launch a regular St. James digital newsletter, keeping everyone informed about the shared progress we are making together. My contact information will be easy to find, and you will always be heard.

Establishing Community Office Hours

I will publish a regular schedule on my website detailing my public availability and the local events I plan to attend. Additionally, at least two evenings every month I will host open, face-to-face community hours at our local coffee shops, community clubs, and parks across the ward. These will be casual, accessible, welcoming spaces where you can drop by and share what's on your mind.

Launching the St. James Community Event Toolkit

To help you launch your own neighbourhood events, we will establish a step-by-step "Community Event Toolkit." Our office will actively guide residents through municipal permitting processes for things like block parties, provide financial support, and help turn your grassroots community ideas into reality.

Finances

Stopping Cost Overruns, Not Essential Services

Making promises to freeze or lower property taxes while simultaneously pledging to fix our crumbling roads and public services is offering a short-term political promise that isn’t possible.

At the same time, I know that everyday costs are pushing a lot of household budgets to the limit. St. James has a vibrant, deeply connected senior population living on fixed incomes, and younger folks are trying to get a foot in the door with skyrocketing housing costs.

Here is my practical strategy to protect your hard-earned tax dollars:

Prioritizing Long-Term Maintenance

Doing basic upkeep early is always cheaper than fixing an emergency breakdown. I will champion a shift toward a regular, scheduled maintenance cycle for our roads, pipes, and facilities, saving millions in the long run.

Enforcing Strict Budget Delivery on City Contracts

Major city capital projects should never become a blank check for overruns. Incidents like the costly delays at the Winnipeg Police Headquarters must not be repeated. I will advocate for modern, performance-based contracts that include strict quality and budget rules right from day one, ensuring cost increases driven by vendor delays are managed accountably without defaulting to the taxpayer.

Collaborating for Shared Funding

Winnipeg’s long-term infrastructure goals require teamwork. I will use my expertise in team-building to collaborate with my fellow councillors and work alongside our provincial and federal partners to secure our fair share of infrastructure grants.